Maria is interested in the science-policy interface for ecosystem services and biodiversity to inform landscape management decisions. She has developed syntheses of ecosystem services to provide evidence that can be used in environmental decision making. Her PhD research supervised by Dr. Kerrie Wilson, Prof. Hugh Possingham, Dr. Jonathan Rhodes and Dr. Brett Bryan (CSIRO) focus on the spatial assessment of ecosystem services. By applying methods like scenario analysis and conservation planning, she aims to prioritize alternatives that balance conservation, development, and social objectives.